There aren’t very many transportation writers in the regional mainstream media, but of the few out there, I doubt there is one any more concise or on the ball than Jeff Nagel. It’s rather unfortunate that his writing is currently relegated to local community newspapers, but I suppose that’s how the cookie crumbles in old media.

Jeff brought my attention to something I had absolutely no clue was in the pipeline for TransLink: a premium, regional express coach system. Yes, similar to the idea I floated about a week ago, where everyone admitted that the concept of express services are highly attractive, especially with services such as comfortable coaches.

The West Coast Express train service is the least subsidized transit service in the region (SkyTrain actually makes money), recovering about 90% of it’s costs. Unfortunately, due to rail contract limitations, I assume, service only operates five trains in the morning, and five at night. Not the most convenient thing if you don’t follow a strict 9-5 schedule.

So, TrainBus service was introduced a number of years ago. It supplements the train, providing express coach service in the early morning, afternoon, early evening, and nighttime.

Anyways, the rather faulty research and statistics of current WCE riders (which I’ll attack in another post) is apparently convincing TransLink pursue an expansion of West Coast Express from a local brand to a regional one. This would be the type of transit that would allow people in Abbotsford or Chilliwack to get directly to Downtown, quickly and comfortably.

Consultants are set to examine four potential routes:

• White Rock/South Surrey to Downtown
• Ladner/Tsawwassen to Downtown
• Pemberton, Whistler, Squamish to Downtown
• Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Mission to Surrey, Coquitlam or Downtown

As part of a premium brand, the consultants will look into including some of these features:

• High quality including smooth ride, comfortable seat, lots of leg room
• On-board amenities such as electric plug-ins, fold out trays, headphones, washrooms, reclining seats, coffee and newspapers, A/C and heating, individual reading lights
• Seat specific reservations
• On board storage areas such as luggage racks, overhead compartments, or bike racks
• Premium stations including inside heated waiting area, real time arrival/departure information, Wi-Fi, coffee shop, newspaper/magazine vendor, etc.
• Park and rides with reserved spaces
• Enhanced security at stations and on board including cameras, telephones, etc.
• Guaranteed ride home insurance for missed or full buses – potentially allowing customers to take a taxi home

While this is a premium service, estimated prices really aren’t all that bad:

• Mission to Downtown: $11.25
• TriCities to Downtown: $6.25
• Whistler to Downtown: $20
• Squamish to Downtown: $11.25
• Abbotsford to Downtown: $12
• Chilliwack to Downtown: $20
• Ladner to Downtown: $6.75
• Tsawwassen to Downtown: $6.75
• White Rock to Downtown: $8.25

I have to admit, this is the type of system I’ve dreamed about. I mean, yes, prices are a premium. But when you consider a three zone adult fare is now $5, an extra 2 or 3 bucks for this service is *so* worth it. Consider what you get:

An express coach service, with comfy seats, plenty of on board “premium” amenities, indoor stations with real time information, WiFi, and food/coffee. I really don’t think you can get much better than this.

And because it’s not going to take the leasing of expensive private rail tracks, I assume such a service wouldn’t cost all that much to provide. Frankly the premium price would likely pay for the service after a short while. They’d just need to buy the coaches, maybe some minimal land, design the stations, and you’re good to go.

I actually got a one day lift ticket for Whistler during Christmas, but there’s actually very few options to get there from Vancouver without a car. An high class touristy train only runs during spring, and the private coach service, which only runs two times a day, is already costly at $25 one way.

I also find it interesting how this could be a way around the Canada Line contract agreement whereby TransLink had to divert all current express coaches (not a premium service, but those yellow buses) to Bridgeport Station. See, considering it would a be a premium brand, this wouldn’t be under the contract. And I think if people in Coquitlam are willing to pay a slight premium for an express service downtown, people from Ladner, Tsawwassen, and White Rock certainly will.

Whether it’s to Whistler, Chilliwack, or just White Rock, I definitely see a market for TransLink here, especially with their expanded territories. We desperately need region wide express transit options here, and our little SkyTrain network just doesn’t cut it at the moment. I think such a service would be very popular, even with the premium price, and I could easily see new lines being developed for routes to the ferry terminals, to the airport from the Valley, or even going up to Mount Seymour or Cypress. I’m very intrigued to see where this goes.